From Obsession To Revenge

Synopsis

"Nina, are you deaf? Where's my water?" The shout exploded beside my ear, sharp with impatience, followed by the dull thud of a basketball hitting the floor. I jolted awake, my heart racing, the phantom pain of the car crash from my past life still lingering in my chest. In front of me was a noisy freshman classroom, the air thick with chalk dust and the scent of teenage sweat. Gerald stood near the podium in a branded basketball jersey, drenched in sweat. His brows were furrowed, his gaze full of open disdain as it landed on me. A group of boys crowded around him, egging him on. Beside them stood a girl in a short skirt, smiling sweetly, Olivia. "Gerald, maybe Nina isn't feeling well. Don't be so hard on her." Olivia deftly twisted open a bottle of water and raised it to Gerald's lips, though her eyes slid toward me with a subtle challenge. "What could she possibly be sick for? She's just trying to get my attention. I've seen this 'playing hard to get' act too many times." Gerald took the bottle, tipped his head back, and drank deeply. Then he tossed the empty bottle onto my desk with force. It bounced, sending a few cold droplets onto my face. Laughter rippled through the classroom. "Nina, drop the act. Go to the store and buy Gerald a case of energy drink. If you take too long, he'll be pissed." "Exactly. You're usually stuck to him like glue, why pretend to be distant now?"